Vehicle hoist



Patented Sept. 17, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE HOISTWilliam. A.

to Sun Oil This invention relates to hoists or lifts which are used.-for raising automobiles, trucks, buses,v etc., to a position whichpermits an operator to readily Work on the chassis and other parts ofthe. vehicle which are, inaccessible when the vehicle. is on the ground.In particular the invention contemplates an arrangement for providingproper and effective illumination ,for the operator when the hoist is inits raised position.

Itis the' custom for an. operator when Working on the underside of avehicle to be provided with an incandescent light which he carries orwhich is suspended on the vehicle adjacent to the parts to be workedupon,l or is` of the portable floor type. This provides a greatinconvenience to the operator since the light must Ibe moved from timeto time as the work progresses, and it is impossible with this procedureto always obtain the proper light in all the areas to be worked upon.Also because of the frequent moving of the light, it and the variousconnections are subject to extreme wear and breakage necessitatingfrequent replacements.

The present invention utilizes a fluorescent type of light which is soassociated with the hoist or lift that all parts of the understructureof a vehicle are readily visible. The lights are made a part of thehoist or lift and are so arranged as to be automatic in operation andnot requiring any attention of the operator. The electrical equipmentfor controlling power to the lights is associated with the apparatus ina manner to be explosion proof in order to eliminate hazards ordinarilyexistent where automotive equipment is being serviced.

Referring 'to the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus with the various parts showndiagrammatically.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in elevation of the apparatus taken on theline 2--2 of Figure l with a portion sectioned.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the apparatus.

Referring to Figure 1 the hoist or lift comprises a pair of runways Iand II, interconnected by a bolster I2, which is xedly secured to therunways. The runways I0 and II are provided with the usual ramps I 4,I5, I6 and I1 which are hingedly mounted in order to provide inclinedguides for directing the vehicle onto the runways. The illuminatingmeans comprises a plurality of fluorescent light assemblies as indicatedat I6, I9, 20 and 2| which are positioned between the runways I0 and II,and electrically connected by a Company,

.Courtenan Jr., Chester, Pa., assigner Philadelphia, Ba., a.oorporati'on of N ew Jersey Application May 2, 1944, Serial No. 533,686

2. Claims. (Cl. 24U- 72) suitable line as indicated generally at4 224,which has one end. grounded to each runway asi shown;

As heretofore. mentionedl lthe illuminating means will fbe of thefluorescent. type since they can readily be constructed to giveeffective illumination while being of relatively small diameter adaptingthem to occupy relatively confined spaces extending fromV the lbolsterof the lift lto each end of the runways. The. iiuorescentilluminatingmeans. may bev `of either the so-call'ed cold or hot cathode type, butsince the hot cathode type necessitates a time lag' before it reachesits greatest intensity it is preferred to use the cold' cathode typewhich is instantaneous. The light assemblies; I8, I9, 20: and 2l inFigure 1 Will be understood to ,be of the cold cathode type and aconstant current high voltage transformer 23, will be provided in thecircuit to effect the i11- stantaneous lighting. With the hot cathodetype of light the arrangement shown in Figure 1 would be similar exceptthat the transformer would be eliminated and a starter substituted.

Referring to Figure 2 the runway II is shown in detail and comprises arolled stee1 channel section forming the tread portion 24 with inner andouter upstanding flanges 25 and 26, providing a channel for receivingthe wheels of a vehicle. The light assemblies as indicated are securedadjacent to the inner flange 26, for example by means of support 21, andare positioned lbelow the upper edge of the flange in order t0 ed andprotected thereby.

In Figure 3 a portion of a light assembly is shown in detail andcomprises the uorescent tube 28 positioned within a transparent plasticcovering 29 suitably spaced from the tube by means of apertured discs30. The discs 30 preferably will -be constructed of a resilient materialin order to give some resiliency to the assembly and provide protectionagainst breakage through shock when the hoist is being raised orlowered. Each of the transparent coverings 29 will be provided withfittings 3| of suitable shape to enclose the unprotected electricalwires 22 in order to satisfy fire safety laws.

In Figure 4 the hoist is shown raised from the licor by means of apiston or cylinder 32 which may be hydraulically operated or operated byother suitable means (not shown). When the hoist is raised to apredetermined height, for example, four feet or a distance from the ablefor an operator to work, current from a source will be automaticallysupplied to the lights. To eiTect this various means may be resorted to,for example, a switch may be actuated directly by be shieldfloor suit- Y3 the hoist or vehicle when a predetermined height is reached. `Inorder, however, to provide an arrangement which satises rire safetylaws, the

l switch means will be located in an explosionprovided with springs tomaintain the cable tautA when the hoist is raised or lowered. In orderto close the circuit to the light assemblies I8, 1 9,- -20 and 2l a,switch 31 is provided in the circuit and is arranged to be opened andclosed through rotation of the reel 35. A suitable arrangement is toprovidea gear train comprising a gear 38 shaft ofreel .1

secured to and rotatable with the 35 for driving gear 39 which in turnoperates the switch 31 to close the circuit through therotatableactuator 40 when the hoist has reached the predetermined height. Forexample, the switch 31 could be arranged to be closed'when the reel 35has traveled throughv sufficient number of revolutions to permit the.ilexible cable 36 to reach the predetermined height and throughthegears 38 `and 39 the actuator 40 has completed one revolution. Y Y Whileonly one specific arrangement of the invention is shown and described itis to be considered as exemplary and not Ylimitative of the invention.,Y What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1 1. A hoist for vehicles which comprises a pair of spaced runwaysnormally supported on the elevating said runways,

ground floor for receiving a vehicle, means for an electrical circuitincluding a power source and tubular lighting means, said lighting meansbeing positioned in a confined space adjacent said runways and extendingsubstantially the full length thereof, an explosion proof lchamber,switch vmeans in the circuit between said power source and said lightingmeans, said switch means being disposed beneath the ground oor andwithin said explosion proof chamber, means between said switch meansandsaid hoist operable to actuate the switch and close the circuit fromthe power source to the lighting means when the hoist has been elevatedto a predetermined height.

2. A hoist for vehicles which comprises a pair of runways having innerupstanding flanges for receiving and maintaining a vehicle thereon,

means for elevating said runways, an electrical circuit including apower source and a plurality of tubular lights, certain of said lightsbeing Posii tioned along the inner flange of each runway and extendingsubstantially the full length of the runways, switch means in thecircuit between said power source and 1ights, an extensible electricalconnection between said hoist and switch'means for maintaining thelights incircuit with the power source when the hoist is in raisedposition,` and an explosion prooi chamber, said switch means beingenclosed in said chamber and operable to close the circuit to the lightswhen the hoist is elevated to a predetermined height.

WILLIAM A. COURTN'AY, JR.V

